Interferon-alpha-2A as a salvage treatment for hemorrhagic enteritis associated with epstein-barr virus reactivation: A case report

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] is a virus that infects almost all humans worldwide. After the acute phase of the infection, it stays in a latent form in B lymphocytes. EBV reactivation tends to occur in immunosuppressed patients. EBV reactivation may involve the gastrointestinal tract; it has been associated mainly with colitis, but hemorrhagic enteritis has been poorly reported. Treatment usually includes antivirals. However, our patient did not respond to conventional treatment, so interferon alpha-2a was given as a salvage treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hemorrhagic enteritis associated to EBV reactivation treated successfully with interferon alpha-2a.